Luis Meléndez

Luis Meléndez Gardeñas was a pioneer in racewalking in Catalonia and won multiple state and Spanish titles. Meléndez was the Catalan champion in 1918 and the Spanish champion the following year. He did the double of winning the Catalan titles in the 3 kilometres and 5 kilometres walk in 1920 and 1923. In 1920 Meléndez became the first Catalan athlete to qualify for an Olympic final when he competed in the 10 kilometres racewalk at the Antwerpen Games. He was unbeaten from 1919 to 1924 in state competitions and held multiple records in Catalonia and Spain. When Meléndez retired he became a coach and manager promoting athletics at clubs in Barcelona. He then worked as a journalist where he was the editor-in-chief of several publications and later covered the Olympic Games in Roma in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964.

Personal Best: 10kmW – 49:52.4 (1922).